afrol News, 26 May - Despite heavy protests from the opposition, the Chadian parliament has approved an amendment to the constitution, allowing President Idriss Deby to stand candidate for an unlimited number of five-year presidential terms. The opposition has answered with a national general strike.

Chadian lawmakers today approved of a constitutional revision with 123 votes in favour and zero votes against the amendment. All opposition MPs however had left the parliament in protest before the voting. The opposition has vowed to fight the amendment, which is said to be tailored for the personal interests of President Deby.

Chad's 1996 constitution - which was adopted as former rebel and coup-maker Deby led the country's slow transition into a multi-party democracy with certain limitations - provided for only two presidential terms. President Deby thus would have to step down after his second five-year term ends in 2006.

The ruling Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS), which is headed by Mr Deby, decided to demand an amendment to the constitution at a party congress in November last year, with an aim of removing the limit of how many terms a President can be re-elected altogether. The amended constitution only foresees a 70-year age limit for a presidential candidate.

52-year-old President Deby has not wanted to comment on the bitter fight between the ruling MPS and the opposition regarding the constitutional amendment. However, during his 2001 presidential campaign, he promised he would step down from power as his presidential term ends.

Chad's embattled opposition, which only holds 45 of parliament's 155 seats, could not prevent the passing of the amendment bill, which has to be approved by a two-thirds majority before it is put to a referendum.

Instead, the opposition made it clear it would not take part in the decision process and would answer the amendment with popular mass action. By announcing a general strike today, the opposition hopes to mobilise Chadians to vote "no" in the upcoming referendum.

According to reports from N'djamena, the national strike today has been observed by most businesses in the capital. A majority of shops were closed and residents of the capital staid at home, leaving most central streets empty.

The Chadian opposition is concerned that the moves to amend the country's constitution is yet another move by President Deby to consolidate his authoritarian regime. Mr Deby has won two multi-party presidential elections, which however were marred by irregularities and fraud, according to local and international observers.

Presidential powers are almost unlimited in Chad and President Deby bases his power political friends of his own ethnic group with the MSP. Mr Deby's Chad has had a poor human rights record since he took power in a coup in 1990, with limited freedom of the press, assembly, religion and movement.

By staff writers

© afrol News

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